Augmented reality near-eye pupil-forming catadioptric optical engine in glasses format

A near-eye pupil forming catadioptric optical engine for use with an augmented reality (AR) display system including, the near-eye pupil forming catadioptric optical engine including:

• an image generator forming a 2D image;
• an optical imaging assembly orientated along a first optical axis, the optical imaging assembly configured to form an exit pupil along the first optical axis for viewing the 2D image, the optical imaging assembly including a spherical combiner and a first beam splitter positioned between the spherical combiner and the exit pupil;
• and
• an optical image relay assembly orientated along a second optical axis orientated at an oblique vertical angle from the first optical axis, the optical image relay assembly configured to conjugate the formed 2D image from the image generator towards the first beam splitter along a third optical axis that is perpendicular to the second optical axis.

A method of assembling an augmented reality (AR) display system comprising

• providing an eyeglass frame including a support housing extending along a longitudinal axis between a pair of opposing temple support arms;
• and
• mounting a pair of near-eye pupil forming catadioptric optical engines to the eyeglass frame and spaced along the longitudinal axis,
• wherein mounting each of the near-eye pupil forming catadioptric optical engines includes:
• positioning an image generator within the support housing, the image generator forming a 2D image;
• mounting an optical imaging assembly to the support housing such that the optical imaging assembly is orientated along a first optical axis, the optical imaging assembly configured to form an exit pupil along the first optical axis for viewing the 2D image, the optical imaging assembly including a spherical combiner and a first beam splitter positioned between the spherical combiner and the exit pupil;
• and
• positioning an optical image relay assembly within the support housing such that the optical image relay assembly is orientated along a second optical axis orientated at an oblique vertical angle from the first optical axis, the optical image relay assembly configured to conjugate the formed 2D image from the image generator towards the first beam splitter along a third optical axis that is perpendicular to the second optical axis.